InfoQube IM - Community

Submitted by Pierre_Admin on 2015/09/29 16:23

Hi IQ Users,

In this release (v0.9.26PreRel57), lots of new grid related features :

New: Grid: Load column sets: Allow a dynamic grid display with easily interchangeable sets of columns. Grid native columns are still available (for sorting and conditional formatting purposes), but made invisible, except for locked and tree columns (which remain visible, no matter what). Column sets can come from forms or grids (see below for information on the new feature of showing grids in the Properties pane). To load a column set, right-click on the form or grid in the Properties pane. Multiple uses, but in particular, when viewing items in the search or scratch grid, users can now load column sets to view relevant information
New: Grid column sets can be shown in the Properties pane. Setting in Grid Management. Off by default.
New: Grid: Can now hide / unhide columns. Hidden columns can still be used to sort. Added Hide Column command and Hidden Columns (list of) menu command. Hidden columns feature is compatible with the Column > Show Columns menu.
New: Grid: Column Header menu: Move Up / Down. Can select one or more columns.
New: Grid: Column Header menu: Set caption (without going through the Field properties dialog). You can now set the header caption and icons using a WYSIWYG editor.
New: Grid: Column menu: Move Left / Right. Can select one or more columns.
New: Grid: Hoist Marked Items
New: Grid: Transparent select back color. So you can still see item colors when selecting items.
New: Properties pane: Set caption (without going through the Field properties dialog). You can now set the field caption and icons using a WYSIWYG editor.
Change: Grid: Hide Column is now named Remove Column
Fixed: Properties Pane: Changing a field property did not update the pane. Users had to close the pane and re-open. This is no longer necessary
Fixed: Grid: When Column > Show Columns is unchecked, it was still possible to execute some column related commands (i.e. hide column add / remove columns, etc) These are now disabled.
Fixed: Manage Grids dialog: Focus is not set to the current grid
Fixed: Grid: Pasting was disabled for fields with editor of type List of item popup

Download it here

Pierre_Admin

IQ Designer

Comments

Great stuff ! Looking forward to trying out the new features.

But where are the new features? I cannot even find them, although I am running the new version:

InfoQube Information Manager 0.9.26Pre-Rel57 build 29/09/2015 21:08:16 - C:\GD\Transfer\Main.SNDB

I am sorry, but I am one of those old-fashioned people who needs documentation and who quickly gets frustrated by having to hunt around, especially when the search is unsuccessful!

Mark GREGORY, Redon, France - GMT +1/+2; EST +6

Hi Mark,

You've read the original post ?

If you don't see some of the new commands, perhaps you can reset your menus. Customized menus don't always update.

HTH

Pierre_Admin

Which original post are you referring to? The one that has just announced version 57? Or something earlier? From the release post, I would expect the grid menu to contain some new facilities. It does not. I have just reset the grid context menu, and there are still no new features showing:

Mark GREGORY, Redon, France - GMT +1/+2; EST +6

Correct, the Grid menu is unchanged.

Check the Column menu and the grid column header context menu.

To load a column set, use the context menu of the Properties pane.

HTH

Pierre_Admin

Sorry Pierre, it does not help. I have not got anything useful to work because I still cannot find what the hell it is you tell me I should be able to find.

When you introduce new functionality, you have to explain to ignorant peasants like me what it is for, who should use it when and what its benefits are. And then spell out very carefully for the same ignoramuses like me how to set it up and how to use it. I started off looking at the grid menu, because it is to grids that the announcement post points. Following your most recent post, I have looked at the column menu and I find nothing that obviously tells me what to do next. In the manage grids menu, I have right clicked on a grid, and I see nothing which is helpful. In the properties pane, grids, current grid, I find no reference to column sets. And remember that at this point, I still have no idea what a column set is.

What this is bringing out is that the product now has so much functionality with so many different menu options, context menus and what have you, that even a moderately experienced user like me often has no idea what to do next. Usually, when I try to do something new in InfoQube, I start with the manual. Normally of course I find nothing there because it is not being kept up-to-date. I then set off on a search of the forums and because the Drupal website search functionality is very imprecise, I find myself reading many posts before sometimes I find the information which I require. Over the years, this has wasted tens or hundreds of hours.

This is a serious issue – how on earth do you expect people who haven't spent five years staring at the product (and of course benefiting from it - thank-you!) ever to master it? With Ecco, there was a printed manual, which I read from cover to cover, and I think I mastered two thirds or so of its functionality. Sadly, that is certainly not the case with InfoQube.

Mark GREGORY, Redon, France - GMT +1/+2; EST +6

Hi Mark,

I've just stabilized v57 and the next step is to document the new features, please be patient with me...

If you look at the column menu, you'll notice new commands:

Hide Column
Hidden Columns
Move Left / Right
Column Header > Caption, Move up / down

These should be self explanatory.

Column sets, as the name implies, allows you to quickly change the columns in a grid. Right-click on a form in the Properties pane to load / unload a specific set of columns.

Please forgive my rude impatience, which is unforgivable given the huge efforts you continually make with this product. I have now downloaded 57a.

1. Fine, but what has this got to do with column sets?
2. Ditto.
3. Yes, that works well, but again, what has it got to do with column sets?
4. Ditto.

The issue here is that I have no idea what a column set is and I have no idea what its benefits are! I shall have to be patient until you have time to document them. Incidentally, I have never made any use of forms because as far as I can make out the only difference they make is to change the layout from horizontal to vertical. Again, if they have other useful benefits, they need to be spelt out.

Mark GREGORY, Redon, France - GMT +1/+2; EST +6

Column sets is only part of the new features of v57. I listed the others first.

Regarding column sets, you can now quickly change the displayed columns in a grid. This was described in the original post... :

New: Grid: Load column sets: Allow a dynamic grid display with easily interchangeable sets of columns. Grid native columns are still available (for sorting and conditional formatting purposes), but made invisible, except for locked and tree columns (which remain visible, no matter what). Column sets can come from forms or grids (see below for information on the new feature of showing grids in the Properties pane). To load a column set, right-click on the form or grid in the Properties pane. Multiple uses, but in particular, when viewing items in the search or scratch grid, users can now load column sets to view relevant information

Regarding forms, checkout 4. Forms

I can see grids in the properties pane. If I right click on the 'grids' header, or on current grid, nothing happens. If I right click on a field in the grid, I can – quite properly – only see properties relevant to that specific field.

Mark GREGORY, Redon, France - GMT +1/+2; EST +6

[quote=gregory]

Mark GREGORY, Redon, France - GMT +1/+2; EST +6

[/quote]

Let's try the column set features. Like you, I'm new to all of this.

[quote=PPL]

New: Grid: Load column sets: Allow a dynamic grid display with easily interchangeable sets of columns. Grid native columns are still available (for sorting and conditional formatting purposes), but made invisible, except for locked and tree columns (which remain visible, no matter what). Column sets can come from forms or grids (see below for information on the new feature of showing grids in the Properties pane). To load a column set, right-click on the form or grid in the Properties pane. Multiple uses, but in particular, when viewing items in the search or scratch grid, users can now load column sets to view relevant information

[/quote]

So I read : "To load a column set, right-click on the form or grid in the Properties pane. Multiple uses, but in particular, when viewing items in the search or scratch grid, users can now load column sets to view relevant information"

So I go to the properties pane, right click on a form. I see "Load column set". I click on it and the currently displayed grid columns are replaced by the fields/columns displayed in the form. Clever. I reclick (right click ) on the form, and I see "unload column set". I click on it and the original columns are back.

I see that there's a new "Grids" subsection in the properties pane. I right click on it : nothing. But I realize that it's the same grid that's currently displayed and that explains it. But if I reload another set of columns from a form, then right clicking on the grid in the properties pane offers me to load that set instead. OK, I get it.

But then I look at the next feature which makes it easier to understand.

[quote=PPL]

New: Grid column sets can be shown in the Properties pane. Setting in Grid Management. Off by default.

[/quote]

OK, so that means that I can have more than one grid in the new properties pane subsection. I just go to the Grid Management (Tolls : manage grids), and select the grids I want there. Options : show this grid in properties pane.

Cool.

--> Pierre, suggestion : maybe right clicking on the Properties pane Grids sub section or any grid from that section could offer the option to 1- go directly to the manage grid dialog 2- OR to add the currently displayed grid to the list.

Ok, now a look to the other goodies... :)

[quote=PPL]

New: Grid: Can now hide / unhide columns. Hidden columns can still be used to sort. Added Hide Column command and Hidden Columns (list of) menu command. Hidden columns feature is compatible with the Column > Show Columns menu.

[/quote]

Works well. Thanks Pierre. Handy feature!

[quote=PPL]

New: Grid: Column Header menu: Move Up / Down. Can select one or more columns.

[/quote]

Works fine, thanks! Handy too...

[quote=PPL]

New: Grid: Column Header menu: Set caption (without going through the Field properties dialog). You can now set the header caption and icons using a WYSIWYG editor.

[/quote]

Works fine, thanks!

[quote=PPL]

New: Grid: Column menu: Move Left / Right. Can select one or more columns.

[/quote]

Cool. works well.

[quote=PPL]

New: Grid: Hoist Marked Items

[/quote]

Works, thanks. And with the new column set options, will be easy the manipulate the visual context.

[quote=PPL]

New: Grid: Transparent select back color. So you can still see item colors when selecting items.

[/quote]

OK... that one I can't find.
Where's that, Pierre?

[quote=PPL]

New: Properties pane: Set caption (without going through the Field properties dialog). You can now set the field caption and icons using a WYSIWYG editor.

[/quote]

Nice touch! Thanks.

[quote=PPL]

Change: Grid: Hide Column is now named Remove Column

[/quote]

Ok. works.

[quote=PPL]

Fixed: Properties Pane: Changing a field property did not update the pane. Users had to close the pane and re-open. This is no longer necessary

[/quote]

OK.

[quote=PPL]

Fixed: Grid: When Column > Show Columns is unchecked, it was still possible to execute some column related commands (i.e. hide column add / remove columns, etc) These are now disabled.

[/quote]

Didn't notice that bug.... but thanks.

[quote=PPL]

Fixed: Manage Grids dialog: Focus is not set to the current grid

[/quote]

Works. Handy.

[quote=PPL]

Fixed: Grid: Pasting was disabled for fields with editor of type List of item popup

[/quote]

Cool.

Great release IMO! Full of very interresting features. Thanks!

-------------------------------------------------------

Windows 8.1

Sony Vaio S Series 13 (SVS131E21L)

Ram:8gb, CPU: Intel i5-3230M, 2.6ghz

Great !

PPL wrote:

New: Grid: Transparent select back color. So you can still see item colors when selecting items.

When selecting items, the back color used to be opaque, hence masking item text and back color. Fixed

[quote=Pierre_Admin]

Great !

PPL wrote:

New: Grid: Transparent select back color. So you can still see item colors when selecting items.

When selecting items, the back color used to be opaque, hence masking item text and back color. Fixed

[/quote]

OK, I understand. I thought it was implemented as an option.

I don't see the difference though. What colors should I be able to see when an item is selected?

Thanks!

[Small problem : I can't deactivate the tooltips (they still appear even after deactivation -- I usually deactivate them as they are a bit distracting/in the way).]

-------------------------------------------------------

Windows 8.1

Sony Vaio S Series 13 (SVS131E21L)

Ram:8gb, CPU: Intel i5-3230M, 2.6ghz

[quote=Armando]

[Small problem : I can't deactivate the tooltips (they still appear even after deactivation -- I usually deactivate them as they are a bit distracting/in the way).]

[/quote]

True. I was working on improving tooltips and got distracted and never finished it. I'll issue an interim version with it fixed.

The idea here is that tooltips are nice but distracting. For items, I wanted to enable them only when pressing a modifier key, such as Ctrl.

Hi Mark,

I've documented using columns in grids here : 4. Grid Columns and Column Sets

And you have done your usual excellent job - thanks!

Thanks also to Armando for his efforts to go through things logically and in order.

Now we can all get down to enjoying this new release.

Mark GREGORY, Redon, France - GMT +1/+2; EST +6

0.9.26PreRel57 packages were updated with minor fixes, related to the new grid column features.

Thanks a lot, Pierre! looks promising...

-------------------------------------------------------

Windows 8.1

Sony Vaio S Series 13 (SVS131E21L)

Ram:8gb, CPU: Intel i5-3230M, 2.6ghz

Hi Pierre,

I'm having problems with itemColor sometimes not showing up [i.e. no Color in the grid]. Since I need it right now, I'll try debugging later tomorrow, unless you/others are able to find the problem before me! (I've had a quick look at the first features and it,s really cool! more tomorrow...)

-------------------------------------------------------

Windows 8.1

Sony Vaio S Series 13 (SVS131E21L)

Ram:8gb, CPU: Intel i5-3230M, 2.6ghz

I couldn't resist debugging a bit. it was easy, it seems :

I think it has to do with the "ItemColor applies to fields" option in the grid Options.

When fields are specified, colors disappear; when no fields are specified, colors appear normally in the grid.

(BTW : load/unload column set is really cool. I like the way you reuse columns and add others etc. Well done!)

-------------------------------------------------------

Windows 8.1

Sony Vaio S Series 13 (SVS131E21L)

Ram:8gb, CPU: Intel i5-3230M, 2.6ghz

Version v0.9.26PreRel57a was just released which fixes this.

Gregory, I feel your pain! I get similarly frustrated but this product and Pierre is special so I contain it because it's a one man show and it's also free (though I did buy licenses).

Pierre, may I make a suggestion? I know how incredibly time consuming and tedious producing documentation can me, but there is an alternative that is so much faster and effective in many instances. How about if each time you release new features you record a 2 minute impromptu screen video showing the new functions and upload it to youtube and link to it in the thread announcing the release?

I personally use Snagit for this, it's $50 and works great. I help with beta testing some products and I've reached a point where I don't even bother typing much of an explanation, I record a 60 second screen video showing the bug I'm encountering, throw it on youtube and link to it in the bug report. 100x more effective communication that takes 1/4 of the time.

FWIW I'm in the same boat as Gregory. I see you announcing new features in every update but I pretty much NEVER use them, even though I'd love to. I just don't have the time to search all over trying to figure it out, and I totally understand you not having the time to devote hours to producing documentation. But if there was a short video I'd watch it every single time and I bet most of your other users would too. BTW, I still don't have the SLIGHTEST idea what "omnibox" is. But I know it's new and it sure does sound cool :D.

Great ideas, I'll consider it for sure !

Pierre, thanks for all these updates. "Load new column sets" is INCREDIBLE!

Wonderful !

Make sure you download the latest (v58) as v57 had a fairly serious bug when using the shortcuts to change the column header caption and the Properties pane field caption.

Great work Pierre!